Here’s a fact for you on World Blood Donor Day – unbelievably, worldwide there are 92 million annual blood donations but this still not enough. Safe blood is in high demand particularly in developing countries.
The World Health Organisation (WHO) arranges many events on World Blood Donor day to thank donors for giving blood, but also to make people aware that there are constantly shortages of safe blood.
The NHS Blood & Transplant Service in England needs 6000 blood donations every day – that’s 1.6 million units of blood each year.
It also needs to recruit 200,000 new donors every year. It needs a mixture of donors from all the various blood groups. It especially needs younger donors (from 17 years old) and people from black and South Asian communities as they have rarer blood types and conditions
What is blood used for?
- to treat medical conditions including anaemia, cancer and blood disorders
- in surgery, including cardiac surgery and emergency surgery
- to treat blood loss after childbirth
Blood transfusions save lives and improve quality of life, particularly in people with terminal illnesses.
Did you know?
Blood can be separated into individual component parts so one donation can be used to treat a number of different patients!
How can you help?
You can make a blood donation and save lives.
Most people can give blood. You can give blood if you are:
- fit and healthy
- weigh over 7 stone 12 lbs or 50kg
- aged between 17 and 66 (or 70 if you have given blood before)
- aged over 70 and have given blood in the last two years
Men can give blood every 3 months and women can give blood every 4 months.
For more information call NHS Blood and Transplant service on 0300 123 23 23 or visit www.blood.co.uk
